Gyrocompass



Oct. 7, 1930.

S. G. BROWN GYROCOMPASS Filed Feb. 4, 1925 vfrwczni'or' -P atented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES;

ATENT Y oFF lcE SIDNEY enonen BROWN, or NORTH ACTON, LONDON, ENGLAND GYnocoMrliss Application filed (February 4, 1925, Serial No} 10 matic figure, the vertical ring is indicated by the-letter a, the pivots b, b enabling it to turn about a vertical axis. Within the vertical about an axis at right angles to the planeof' 15 the paper, the gyro-casing pivots to permit this movement being in the form of hollow trunnions to allow compressed airfrom within the casing to pass to the nozzle, d, secured to the vertical ring, a, by screws cl. Within 20 the gyro-casing, the gyroscope itself (not shown) is rotated in any suitable manner.

, Attached to the gyro-casing one at each end as shown is a pair of bottles, 6, 6 containing mercury, f, f, the bottles being connected be low by a tube, 9, of restricted cross-section and adjustable if desired by any suitable means. Pipes, h, h, are connected respectively to the upper parts of the bottles, 6, e, and cross one another so that their open ends are zle, d. Control of the flow of air into the bottles through the pipes, h, h, is effected by means of the needle or like valves, i, i.

*As the gyro-casing tilts, mercury under the influence of gravity flows down to the lower bottle thereby giving the sensitive element an arc-,in-azimuth or north-seeking movement while damping is eliected by pressure-air acting on the surface of the mercury in the bottles, the necessary lag or phase-difference forthis purpose being eliected by adjustment of the valves, 2', 71. I

' It will be obvious that many variations of V or departures from the illustrative example above described may be made without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what 7 I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is:

' 1. In a gyro-compass, a gyro-casing, supdisposed as shown in relation to the air noz- 6,868, and in .Great Britain March 12, 1924.

porte d to tilt about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of spin, a pair of bottles interconnected for the flow of liquid therebetween and carried by the casing on opposite sides respectively of its axis of tilt and posi-' tioned to contain a liquid whose flow from one bottle to the other to effect north-seeking is due to gravity as the casing tilts, and means brought into action as the casing tilts for applylng pressure to the liquid in the lower bot-,

tle to effect north-settling by damping about the horizontal axis.

2'. In a gyro-compass, a gyro-casing sup ported to tilt about'a'horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of'spin, a pair of bottles interconnected for the flow of liquid therebetween and carried by the casing on opposite sides respectively of its axis of tilt and containing a liquid whose flow from one bottle to the other to eiiect north-seeking is due to gravity as the casing tilts, and means brought into action as the casing tilts for applying pressure to the liquid in the lower bottle out of phase with said gravity flow to effect north-settling by damping about the horizontal axis.

3. Ina gyro-compass, a gyro-casing supported to tilt about a horizontal axis perpen,

dicular to the axis of spin, a pair of liquid-V containing bottles interconnected for the flow of liquid therebetween and carried by the casmg on opposite sides respectively of its axis of tilt for effecting north seeking of the casing, a vertical ring in which said casingis tiltably mounted, a nozzle mounted on said ring and in communication with said casing, and means forming ducts each connected at one end to the top of its respective bottle, the

other ends being open and so disposed with, l

respect to said nozzle that, on tilting of the casing, air pressure is increased inthat bottle which has beenlowered.

4. In a gyrocompass, a gyro-casing supported to tilt about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of spin, a pair of liquid containing bottles interconnected for the'flow of liquid therebetween and carried by the casing on opposite sides respectively of its axis of tilt for effecting north-seeking of the casing, a vertical ring in which said casing is tilt f i f 1,777,958

ably mounted, a nozzle mounted on said ring and in communicationwith said casing, and means forming ducts each connected at one end to the top of its respective bottle, the other 7 end being open and so located that, when the casing is untilted, they are symmetrically di'sposed withregard to said nozzle, but each isto that side ofsaidnozzle opposite tozthat occu pied by the bottle with which it communi: 10 Catesv 5. In a 'gyro'compass, a gyro-casing supported to tilt about a horizontal axis perpen dicular to the axis ofspin, a pair ofiliquid I containingbottles interconnected for the-flow 15 of liquid therebetween andcarried by the casiing -.o1 opp0sitesides respectivelyof its axis- .ofitilt' foriefl'ecting north-seeking of the eassing, a Vertical ring in which said casing is itiltably' mounted, a nozzle mounted on said 0 wringv and in communication with said casing,

-1neans forming ductseach' connected at one iendltothe :top of its respective bottle, the

otherends being open and so disposed with x lresp'ect .to saidno'zzle that, on tilt of the-cas- .ing, air pressure" is increased in that bottle iwhich;has;been lowered, and a Valve in each of said ducts whereby the rate of flow of air 1 win; said ductsmay be varied.

; ,In "testimony whereofI have signed my- 3Q zname to this specification.

SIDNEY GEORGE BROWN. 

